Who Will Be King of the ‘Hill’
Live Oak Plantation’s well-related World Approval (Northern Afleet) headlines a 13-strong field of sophomore turf specialists in the GIII Hill Prince S. at Big Sandy Saturday. A winner of the grassy GIII Saranac S. over the majority of this field going this trip Sept. 5, the striking grey was a solid third in the GII American Turf S. at Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby Day and ran fourth to Divisidero (Kitten’s Joy) and Takeover Target (Harlan’s Holiday) in the Pennine Ridge S. over course-and-distance May 30. The 3-1 crowd’s pick got back on track with a win in the GIII American Derby at Arlington Park July 11 and was fourth behind Takeover Target and third-place finisher Courtier (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. at Saratoga Aug. 7 before his Saranac score. In that contest he defeated the reopposing Money Multiplier (Lookin At Lucky) as well as the fourth-seventh-place horses–Nonna’s Boy (Distorted Humor), Winter Springs (Fr) (Stormy River {Fr}), Takeover Target and Vision Perfect (Pollard’s Vision). “He came out of the last race very well,” said Casse of the Live Oak Plantation colorbearer. “Joel [Rosario] gave him a great ride. We had an easy work at Churchill on the dirt. Nothing to push him. This is a very big race in itself. We hope to have some pace so he can run and hopefully we’ll have a good race.”
Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence field two entrants, with Money Multiplier having done little wrong since breaking his maiden going 1 1/16 miles on the main track here May 3. Runner-up in both the GIII Kent S. in his turf bow at Delaware July 18 and the aforementioned Saranac Sept. 5, the Chad Brown trainee is in fine form. “This horse has really improved all year particularly since we got him on the grass in his last two starts,” said Brown. “He’s had two really good second-place finishes in graded stakes and he’s definitely earned the right to run in the Hill Prince and hopefully continue to develop for us.”
Stablemate Takeover Target looks to improve off his sixth in the Saranac, where he was forced to cover extra ground. “He came out of the race okay and is doing fine,” said Brown. “We didn’t have any apparent excuse after his poor performance in the Saranac so we’re inclined to draw a line through that. He’s been breezing well since that race, so we’re going to give him another chance.”
Royal Albert Hall (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) could finally break through after a pair of in-the-money showings when third in Del Mar’s GIII La Jolla H. Aug. 9 and when runner-up to Om (Munnings) in the Sept. 6 GII Del Mar Derby.